Oven-heat regulator



May 20, 1930.

EI LI CLAUS OVEN HEAT REGULATOR Filed April 1, 1924 4 Shets-Sheet I 'I Z 4 Sheets-Sheet Ema Claus May '20, 193.0. I

E. .CLAUS OVEN HEAT REGULATORv Filed A ril 1,- 1924 May 20, 1930.

E. L. CLAUS OVEN HEAT REGULATOR 4 Sheets-Sheet Filed April 1, 1924 Q29 02mg)- M 6 I, M 20v 6 May- 20, 1930. E. cLAUs w OVEQN HEAT REGULATOR Filed April 1,1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented May 2011336 I UNITED STATES PATENT EMIL L. CLAUS, or MILWAUKEE, wrsconsm, ASS-IGNOR, BY ME'sNE Assrenmnnrs, T CLAUS MANUFACTURING 00., or MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ACORPORATION or WISCONSIN OVEN-HEAT REGULATOR Application filed April 1, 1924. Serial No. 303,439.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in oven heat regulators of that character illustrated in my co-pending application filed November 10, 1923, Serial 5 Number 673,953. I

It is a general object of this invention to provide an oven heat regulator capable of use in connection with stoves,franges or any other type of device where it is desired to maintain a predetermined degree of heat in a compartment such as an oven or other space, and which will be accurate in its adjustments and capable of use with burners or heaters of the electrical or hydrocarbon type. After an oven heat control has been installed, it is necessary that it be adjusted to insure its accurate operation. This is done by placing a mercury thermometer in the oven and setting the control in accordance with the thermometer reading. This manner of adjusting is satisfactory, but, should the operator fail to have a thermometer at hand, he canlnot even approximately adjust the contro Having this in mind, it is another object of my invention to provide an oven heat cont-r01 or regulator having a thermometer incorporated therein and affordin means for facil-i-- tating the initial setting 0 the regulator.

This invention contemplates as another of its objects the provision of a thermometer in- .corporated as a part of the oven heat regulator and operated from the thermostatic memher for actuating the regulator.

Another object ofthis invention resides in the provision of an improved device for conducting gas from the stringer through the control. valve and thence to the burner manifold which comprises a tube having. two pas 40 sageways therem wherein the exterior ap-- pearance is that of a single tube to thus simplify the appearance of the device and facilitate its attachmentto the front portion of the oven adjacent the stringer without projecting therefrom beyond the stringer.

Another object of this invention resides in the provision of an improved stringer attachment for facilitatin the ready connection of the oven heat regu ator with. the stringer without necessitating any special 'fittings OFFICE other than those forming part of the oven the character described having gear means connecting the thermostatic member with the control valve whereby the contraction and ex pingionof thethermostatic member is multip 1e A further object of this invention resides in the provision of a graduated quadrant having an arcuate slot in which an indicator travels, the graduations on one side of the slots being arranged forjartificial gas and the graduations on the other side for natural gas to permit theuse of the regulator with either type of fuel without necessitating any change in the construction thereof.

A further object of this invention resides in the provision of a device of the character described having a temperature adjusting lever which is hingedly mounted and normal-v 1y hangs in aperpendicular position out of the way, and is adapted to be swung to a horizontal position for setting the device.

,A stillfurther object of this invention re the provision of' an oven heat regulator of sides in the provision ofa modified-form of .ed claims, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the .11"

' lustrated two complete examples of the physical embodiment of my invention constructed according to the best modes I have so far devised for the practical application of the principles thereof, and in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a frag ment of a gas stove equipped with my improved oven heat regulator;

Figure 2 is a view, partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section, illustrating a fragment of the stove oven;

, Figure'3 is a view, partly in section and partly in elevation, taken through the upper portion of the oven heat regulator unit proper on the plane of the line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the oven heat regulator proper looking on the plane of the line 4.4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view taken through Figure 2 on the plane of the line 55;

Figure 6 1s aview,partlyin section and part:

ly in top plan view, illustrating the manner of connectlng the stringer with the oven heat regulator-proper and the oven heat regulator with the oven burner manifold;

Figure 7, is a view similar to Figure 2 of theupper portion of the oven and oven heat regulator and illustrating a slightly modified construction of my invention;

Figure 8. is a transverse sectional view taken through Figure 7 on the plane of the .line 88, and

Figure 9 1s a View, partly in section and partly in plan, taken through the upper portion of the modified design of oven heat regulator on the plane of the line 9-9 thereof.

Referringnow more particularly to the accompan'ying drawings, in which like numerals designate like parts throughout the several views, the numeral 10 designates a heating oven which is provided at its front with the usual door 11 communicating with the interior. or'cooking compartment of the oven.

' The oven may be of either the single or double wall type and is provided with a front frame of a sturdy material having a comparatively low coefiicient of expansion such as cast iron, steel or the like, and as is usual in ranges or stoves, the frame 13 extends along the sides and bottom of the door openingand is suitably connected with the framework 14 of the range proper.

The oven is heated by a burner 15 of an desired design or construction from which leads a manifold 16 having a mixing chamber 17 on its outer end into'which a gas supply jet 18 extends. The fuel jet 18 is connected with a supply of fuel through the oven heat regulator to be hereinafter described.

The rigid framework 13 of the, oven is constructed of'material having a comparatively low coeflicient of expansion, as above described, and is of such construction as to have a minimum degree of contraction or expansion, if any, under the rangesof temperature at which the oven is operated, and from this framework my improved oven heat regulator or instrument is mounted;

The upper inner corner of the framework is provided with a relatively small opening or aperture 19 into which is threaded a stud 20 having its inner end '21 :reduced and threaded, see Figures 1 and 2, to receive the forward or inner end 22 of a tubular thermostatic member 23. The member 23 extends through the oven and its'rear end 24 passes outwardly of the oven through an aperture 7 in the rear wall 25 thereof. The member 23 is of material having a relatively high coefficient of expansion and may or may not be of increased diameter-at its medial portion I the operation of the instrument.

A bracket member or arm 26 is mounted on the outer end of studl20 and affords means for rigidly mounting the oven heat regulator instrument proper. The bracket member 26 isdetachablysecured to a housing or casting 27 forming part of the instrument by a securing bolt or screw 28 which pases through the arm 26 and a boss 29 formed on the housing and extended into a bored enlargement 30 on the arm. v

. The housing 27 has a tapered well 31 in its lowermost portion in which a normally stationary valve member 32 is disposed with the shank or stem on the lower end thereof extended outwardly of the housing bottom wall to provide means for attaching an aidjusting member 34' thereto. The adjusting member 34' is in the form of a lever secured .to the shank or stem 33 by a knurled wheel or adjusting head 35 secured to the extreme end of the stem 33 by a screw 36 and restrained from rotation thereon by cooperating flats on the head 35 and shank 33. The adjusting member is frictionally secured from rotation on the valve member stem by a split tension disc or washer 37 confined between the adjusting member 34 and the end 38 of the housing.

That portion of the valve member disposed above its stem or shank is tubular and the medial portion thereof is tapered to fit the taper of well 31 and the extreme upper end 39 thereof is cylindrical and has a valve member 40 telescoped therewith. The end 39 of valve member 32 and valve member 40 are disposed in an upper chamber or compartment 41 formed in the housing and have elongated openings or ports '42 and 43, respectively, adapted to, when in register, permit the flow of fuel from the inlet port I to the outlet port 0 of the housing. Disposed beneath the compartment or chamber 41, and communicating with the well bore 31, is an annual chamber 44 and the valve member 32 is provided with a plurality of ports or openings 45 in register with the chamber. The valve member 40 is a floating member in that its fit over the end 39 of the valve member 32 is a comparatively loose one to'reduceits resistance against rotation to a minimum.

Gas for the burner is supplied from the stringer through the improved valve described, thence into the manifold 16', and in installing the regulator the standard gas cock controlling the supply of gas to the burner 15 to removed anda plug 46 employed to close the aperture in the stringer and the customary nut, not shown, closing the end of the stringer, is replaced by a fitting 48, see Figures 1, 2 and 6. This fitting is in the form of a cap having a passageway 49 therein which is intersected by a valve-plug well 50 in which is mounted a valve-plug 51 of any I desired design having a handle 52 for opening and closing the passageway 49. Secured to the fitting 48 is a tubular member 53 from the outer end of which extends a tube or pipe 54 having its upper end securedto the supply side of a distributing head or manifold 55. The distributing head 55 has a fuel supply or inlet passage 56 and a burner supply or outlet passage 57, connected with the chamber inlet I and outlet Q by ducts 58 i and 59, respectively.

The tube 54 has its upper end connected with the passage 56 and positioned therein is a smaller tube 60, having its upper'end connected with the outlet 57 and its lower end with an outlet 61in the tubular member 53. F romthe outlet 61 extends a connection 62 which connects with the jet 18, the burner fuel passing from the stringer, through the fitting 48, tubular member 43, tube 54, up- Wardly through tube 54 about tube 60, through passage 56, duct 58, chamber 44, through the ports 45, valve member 32, bore 63 of the valve member, ports 42 and 43, chamber 41, duct 59, passage 57, down through tube 60, outlet 61 and thence to the burner manifold through theconnections 62 and jet 18.

In order to insure the maintenance of a -minimum flame at the burner, irrespective of the position of the valve member 40 with relation to the valve member 32, a by-pass 63- is provided connecting the chambers 41 and '44, an adjusting or needle valve 64 being provided to permit regulation of the minimum volume of gas supplied the burner.

A pilot light constructed substantially identical with that illustrated in my abovementioned co-pending application is provided, the pilot tube 65 communicating with v the outlet 61 of thetubular member 53 and having its adjusting member 66 positioned at a point exteriorly of the oven.

A stem 67 extends upwardly from the floating valve member 40 and passes outwardly of the housing through a stufling box or packing gland 68 in a removable cap or plug 69 closing the upper end of chamber 41. The

upper end of the stem 67 is disposed in a recess 70 in the housing and has a gear-71 fixed thereto which meshes with a gear 72 journaled on a stud 73. The gear 72 is'rotated on its axis by the contraction and expansion of the thermostatic rod 23 which is connected there with.

A rod member 74, preferablyof material having a relatively low co-elii'cient of expansion, is positioned exteriorly of the oven and has its rear end rigidly connected with or tied tothe rear end 24 of the thermostatic align its port 43 with the port 42, as will be readily obvious.

In that form of my invention illustrated in Figures 7, 8 and 9, the rod member 74 is in the form of a tubular member provided with air circulating openings 78 and having a stud 79 extending from the rear end to facilitate its connection with the thermostatic member by the clamp 75. A screw shaft stud 80 is extended from the forward end of the tubular member which engages a worm wheel 81 fixed to gear 72. The screw shaft 80 is held in engagement with the worm wheel by an adjustable set screw 82 carried by the housing 27 and engaging a flattened side 83; thereof. With this construction it will be readily obvious that contraction or expansion of the thermostatic member 23-is converted into rotary movement at the valve 40.

The recess 70 is enclosed by a cap or cover 84 secured in place by a removable screw 86 and the spindle or stem 67 of the valve 40 extends through the recess and a central opening 87 in the cap member. A collar member 88 is secured on the spindle above the gear 71 and is held in frictional contact with the gear by a screw 89 so that rotation of the valve spindle rotates theeollar member. 'Extended from the collar member is an indicator or pointer 90, the outer end of which extends through an opening or slot 91 in the cap 84 and is'directed upwardly, as at 92, to register With suitable designations 93 delineated on the cap.

In applying my improved device to an oven, the front framework is drilled at its the screw 89 is loosened andthe indicator 92 oven burner fuel supply is removed, the stringer plugged as before described, and the end nut of the stringer, not shown, removed and in its place the fitting 48 mounted. The

" instrument proper is then secured in place by the 'arm and screw, 26 and 28, respectively, and the slip joint connection between the member 53 and the fitting 48, the slip oint connection being held tight. by screws or other bolt means 94. Thus the instrumentis firmly and rigidly made fast to the stove at two points, its upper end to the frame 13 and its lower end to the stringer. The cold or nonswung into register with the designation 450 on the dial 'of the cap 84, and the screw 89 again made fast. The screw 36 is thenloosened and the adj usting member 34 swung by means of its handle 95, to be later described,

.at the same time holding the knurled nut 35 to prevent rotation of the valve 32, until an indicator 96, carried thereby, registers with the designation 450 on the dial formed on a quadrant 97. The screw 36 is tightened tomake the adjusting member 34 fast to the valve 32.

After the thermometer has been once set,

the adjusting of the normally stationaryvalve member 32 may be accomplished without re-- quiring the use of amercury or other type of thermometer, as the reading of the thermometer formed by the indicator 92 is accurate. In the event a mercury thermometer is not at hand for the checking the oven for initial" setting of thedevice, I provide the designatio'ns C and A onthe dial 93 standing for cold and atmospheric, respectively. When the temperature of the room in which the stove is positioned is the average, a setting of the indicator 92 in'register with the designation A will be-within five or ten degrees of the correct temperature and when the air is extremely cold or the stove has been standing adjacent an open window and, con sequently thetemperature thereofis around30 degrees, the indicator is set at the designation C. In this manner the lack-of a mercury thermometer for checking is overcome.

The settin member 34 is longitudinally slotted and t e inner end of the handle 95' is flattened and pivotallysecured in the slot of the setting member by a pivot 98 so that the handle is normally in the perpendicular position illustrated in Figures 2 and'7, but may be readily swung to a horizontal position, as illustrated by dotted lines in Figures 2 and 5 to afford maximum leverage in the setting as previously described. The quadrant 97 1s secured about the reduced end 38 of the housing 27 by a-binding screw 97 and its outer end is provided with an arcuateeslot-99 struck from a radius employing the axis of the valve member 32 as a center.

The indicator 96 is in the form of a projection on the upper outer-tend of the setting member 34, which travels in the slot 99 and has a marker or center line 100 adapted to align with, graduations on opposite sides of the slot, one set of graduations 101 designating natural gas the other 102 designating artificial or manufactured gas, the two being required, in that the setting for one gas is different from the other, thus eliminating the necessity of different dials for the stoves sold in fields where either gas is employed.

It will also be apparent that these devices maybe readily adapted to either left or right hand stoves,as the arm 26 may be swung to either side and the member 74 secured 't0 either side of the gear7 2.

As will be readily obvious, the slip washer 37 affords a tension tofrictionally secure the setting member 34 with the valve member 32 and, when the screw 36' is loosened for setting, affords sufficient tension to facilitate the accurate setting of the member 34 without moving beyond the desired port. v

My improved device may be adjusted either by varying the position of the clamp with relation to the ends of the members 23 and 74 in varying the connection between the end of the member 74 and the gear 81 in the modification illustrated in Figures 7, 8

and 9; by adjusting the gear 71 on the spindle 103 on the members'23 and 74 and the stud 20 is generally secured in the opening 19 the same distance in order that the thermometer may be set substantially correct at the factory and be undisturbed when installed on a stove.

What I claim as my invention is:

ios

i 1. In a device of the character described I includingv an oven, a burner for the oven and a gas supply connectible therewith, a housing having an inlet port and an outlet port, means connecting the inlet port with-the gas supply,

"means connecting the outlet port with the,

oven burner, a pair of cooperating valve members mounted in the housing member and adapted to control the flow of fuel from the inlet port to the outlet port, a thermostatic member mounted within the oven, a connection between said thermostatic member and one of said valve members whereby the fiow of fuel from the inlet to the outlet ports is coordinated with the temperature of the oven,

a quadrant extending laterally from the housing with the axis of the other valve memberv 5a v a plurality of temperature readings on said as its center, an indicator adapted totraverse the quadrant, and a connection between said .indicator and the other valve member wherehousing member and with the gas supply stringer, means connecting the other passage with the outlet port and the oven burner, a valve member controlling the passage of fuel from the inlet port to the outlet port,-a thermostatic member positioned within the oven, and means connecting the thermostatic member with the valve member whereby the valve member is actuated in coordination with the temperature within the oven.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

EMIL L. CLAUS.

member mounted within the oven, a connection between said thermostatic member andone of said valve members whereby the flow of fuel from the inlet to the outlet ports is coordinated with the temperature of the oven, a quadrant extended laterally from the housing and struckfrom an arc employing the axis of the other valve member as a center, an indicator adapted to traverse the quadrant, a connection between said indicator and the valve member whereby the same may be set to adjust the maximum temperature maintained in the oven, and a lever pivotally connected with said indicator and normally hanging in a perpendicular-position and adapted to be swung to a horizontal position to af- 'ford maximum leverage in the setting of the other valve member.

3. In a device of the character described including an oven, a burner for the oven and a gas supply connectible therewith, a housing having an inlet port and an outlet port, means connecting the inlet port with'the gas supply, means connecting the outlet port with the oven burner, a pairof cooperating valve members mounted in the housing member and adapted to control the flow of fuel from the inlet port to the outlet port, a thermostatic member mounted within the oven, a connection between said thermostatic member and a quadrant extending laterally from the housing with its radius struck from the axis'of the other valve member, an indicator adapted to traverse the quadrant, a connection between said indicator and the valve member whereby the same may be set to adjust the maximum temperature maintained in the oven and quadrant, one applying to natural gas and the other to artificial gas.

4. In a device of the character described including an oven, a burner for the oven and a gas supply stringer, of a housing member having an inlet port and an outlet port, a tube member having two non-communicating passages therethrough, means connecting one passage of the tube with the inlet port of the 

